2015 “Over the Mountain” Pinot Noir - Seven Springs Vineyards

Delightfully delicate and ethereal waves of wild cherry, tart blueberry, young raspberry, and pomegranate preserves highlight an impressively high-toned and expressive display brimming with intriguing organic notes of forest floor, sage brush, tree bark, and sautéed mushroom. Wafts of budding rose, cherry blossom, and lavender impart strikingly pretty floral character that whimsically dances alongside intriguing spice tones of coriander, cardamom, and clove. Mild hints of tilled loam gradually provide pleasant earthy reflections while a sensation of sea breeze imparts clean lightly-saline coastal charms. Gorgeously lifted and aromatic on the nose while coming across as dainty and weightless yet incredibly supple and flavorful on the palate; exhibiting a deeply complex and contemplative presentation that still prioritizes balance and restraint over extraction or power. Medium bodied with just under moderate tannin backed by bright acidity. This 2015 "Over the Mountain" Pinot Noir by Seven Springs Vineyards is an enthralling and exciting red from Overberg South Africa.

Although South Africa is largely a warm climate winegrowing region that tends to specialize in big reds like Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the cooler coastal reaches of this country are actually quite well suited for producing fresh and elegant expressions of cool climate grapes like Pinot Noir. This bottling, crafted by Seven Springs Vineyards using Pinot Noir sourced from their vineyards in Overberg, is an outstanding example of the remarkable quality coming out of this under-the-radar part of South Africa. This effortlessly spills bunches of fresh and juicy red fruits that remain delicate despite their excellent depth of flavor, and it backs them with captivating organic notes, lifted florals, complex spices, and mild earthiness. Despite its modest price tag this wine punches well above its weight, and should continue to age well for another 5-10 years or more. Excellent.